Next-Level Transformation: Elevating Your Digital Journey
Day One
Tue, Jun 4 12:30pm - 1:00pm CDT
Check in at MxD and gather your conference materials to prepare for the next two days of content.
Tue, Jun 4 1:00pm - 1:15pm CDT
Listen to an overview of the sessions and MxD facility.
Tue, Jun 4 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Siemens, a leading digital innovations provider, welcomes attendees by commencing with a state of the digital era in manufacturing and new technologies emerging in the field.
Alastair Orchard
Vice President of Digital Enterprise, Siemens Digital Industries
Alastair combined 25 years of design, engineering, manufacturing execution and analytics experience to launch the Siemens Digital Enterprise and bring Industry 4.0 to the market.
A veteran of internal and customer transformation projects across discrete and process industries he currently leads a global agile innovation team who harness the power of Digital Twins to unlock new business models.
His recent inventions include Blockchain-based Trusted Traceability, Recipe Transformation, Bill-of-Process Execution, Skill-based Automation, a Decentralized Manufacturing Marketplace, and a Large Language Model-based Digital Threat Orchestrator.
Alastair holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Loughborough University of Technology in the UK. He lives in Genova, Italy with his wife and children and divides his spare time between the ocean and the mountains.
Tue, Jun 4 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
A digital twin opens manufacturers capabilities to revolutionize product testing, simulation, maintenance and more, without enduring the cost (or loss) of making untested predictions. Explore the potential on how a Digital Twin can save time and efficiency in production.
Ben Blanchette
Director of Digital Manufacturing, Owens Corning
Ben is a results-driven and creative professional with more than 20 years of experience spanning digital transformation, sales, marketing, and product portfolio management. He has a proven track record of profitable business growth through cross-functional leadership and in-depth market understanding with his long history in the manufacturing space guiding digital transformation.
Tue, Jun 4 2:45pm - 3:00pm CDT
Take a break and connect with fellow manufacturing peers before continuing on with guided sessions.
Tue, Jun 4 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software provides manufacturers like USG with greater control and monitorization of their product creation lifestyle. With greater traceability, compliance, and uniformity, an MES solution can save production and efficiency by detecting issues and implementing corrective actions sooner. Learn how an MES solution aligns with digital expansion across operations with featured speakers from USG.
Steve Blahusiak
Senior Systems Designer, USG
Steve Bowles
Senior IT Architect, USG
Steve develops and enables the business strategy and decreases the cost and time to market of manufacturing IT solutions at USG. He lead business and IT stakeholders in strategic planning to realize the impact on business outcomes leveraging information technology in manufacturing world class products. In his role, he is accountable for assessing technology trends, defining road maps, governing the IT architecture, guiding solution designs and in moving IT strategies forward for Manufacturing and Supply Chain functions.
Tue, Jun 4 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
Follow the day's conversations and budding professional relationships during reception with food and drinks.
Day Two
Wed, Jun 5 8:30am - 9:00am CDT
Join fellow manufacturing leaders for some networking and a light breakfast as we kick off Day Two.
Wed, Jun 5 9:00am - 9:45am CDT
Drive the right design for in-building connectivity solutions with Communication Technology Services (CTS), experts in designing secure and reliable solutions for data and telecommunication needs. Listen in as experts explore how manufacturers are adding IDAS, ODAS, PCNs and Small Cell networks to their facilities.
Robert Cerbone
Vice President of Product Management and Marketing, CTS
Rob is the Vice President of Product Management and Marketing for CTS responsible for their private wireless network offering. CTS provides custom, carrier-grade in-building and campus connectivity solutions for enterprises and mobile network operators, solving and managing the most complex networking challenges. Rob is a seasoned product management executive with over 25 years of experience launching new products and services in the telecom and wireless industries with Intelsat, Time Warner Cable, and Sprint Nextel.
Wed, Jun 5 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Manufacturers are routinely looking to evolve their operations and propel themselves ahead of competitors. Dig into the trends you're already exploring and likely using, and see how else you can optimize what already exists across these topics.
Wed, Jun 5 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Where innovation hits the ground. Navigate the state-of-the-art innovation center with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world. View facility partner experimentation and training on everything from augmented AI to advanced simulation.
Wed, Jun 5 11:45am - 12:30pm CDT
Time to nourish the conversations from this morning and your stomach.
Wed, Jun 5 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT
Talent conversations are ever-evolving as new skills and necessities emerge along with the rise in technology. Join fellow attendees as Nate Strong, partner at EY, discusses the people-oriented success factors and shortcomings associated with digital transformation.
Nate Strong
Partner, EY
Wed, Jun 5 1:15pm - 1:30pm CDT
Get out of the afternoon slump feeling by engaging in invigorating conversations (or a bathroom break so you don't have to miss the wonderful afternoon content).
Wed, Jun 5 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Solid communication between IT and OT is a precondition for successful cybersecurity collaboration. But frankly, it's hard to overcome the historical separation, skill shortages, and lack of unified data systems. 84% of companies envision their IT and OT teams working more closely together. Start now on implementing plans to build the bridge and diminish airgaps in your cyber defenses.
Craig Chambers
Senior Director of Manufacturing IT, CF Industries
Craig is an IT leader supporting 7 plants and 23 distribution facilities and has responsibility for plant asset management, EHS7Q, and shipping and processing data systems in his role at CF Industries. He oversees 50+ team members and had lead his company through an $8.3M large-scale cybersecurity upgrade, the installation of a $7M shipping system and numerous system and program integrations.
Bryan Pigg
Manager of IT for Manufacturing Systems, CF Industries
In his current role, Bryan is responsible for the configuration, utilization and administration of the CF global PI system and the integration of new data streams. As CF Industries begins it's advanced analytics journey, Bryan and his team are leading the program that is currently under production. Bryan has also worked with cybersecurity strategy implementation and is an expert in data management.
Wed, Jun 5 2:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Gather insights on Manufacturers Alliance Foundation's exclusive member-led research to better benchmark your organization against the trends of the industry.
Wed, Jun 5 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
This optional but included session gives attendees time with Siemens at their booth to explore and test the digital tools on site.